, 1887-06-09
Correspondence From Japan.
YOKOHAMA, Japan, May. I3, 1887.

Known cOHutCndEcrS are here to greet
me. The same pleasant suburban
walks and coy retreats: the same
green fields and charming landscapes
are still here What a treat was 10
look again upon the majestic form of
tuiiyana. How much he resembles
the noble Rainier, Now he is clothed
IN sllyery white: later on he will dis
robe himself and don garment OF
dark and purple hue.
1t Is now the tea harvest here. The
odor Of the drying leaf constantly
grerts one as he passes along the
streets. The hum Of voices within
shows that the multitudes of busy tea
cUreIs are cniiVening their work by
merry talk, laughter and song.
Twenty or twenty-five cents seems
Ike small wages Tor ten hours work,
without board, but wages must be
estimated in relation to the cost of
living. The tea crop is said to be in
ferior this year. Ghe uufavorable
weather has injured many of the
leaves. The great tea fields Is distant
from Yokohama. The leaf is picked,
steamed, packed in rough boxes and
shipped to the foreign ports, where it
Is sold to the highest bidder The
price, therefore, varies with the sup
ply and demand and the quality of
the leaf. 1t is hard to get into many
Of the foreign curing houses here
They do not want to be troubled with
too inquisitiye visitors. Foreigners
have invested large amounts of cap
!tal In the tea business in this coun-
try. They have, heretofore, been the
only exporters. Now, the Japanese
have organized companies for the
export of tea to America and some
European countries. They would
have engaged in this sooner, but they
lacked experience in direct foreign
trade. With their natural aptness in
the acquisition OF knowledge. they
will soon be perfectly familiar will all
the phases OF foreign commerce. The
Japanese Specie Bank of this city was
established for the express purpose Of
enabling native merchants TO engage
in trade abroad. 1t has a paid mp
capital of S3,0O0,0O0, and the same
amount Of reserve funl. Branches
have been established in London,
Lyons, New York and San Francisco.
Wherever Japanese trade they will
receive home encouragement III the
transaction OF their business. Money
orders for sums not exceeding fifty
dollars can be transmitted through
the postal department to America and
other countries. Allow me to say here
that the japanese have a better pos
tai system than the Americans have.
1t is rare thing for mail to be lost
or miss sent. 1t reaches every village
with as much regularity as the large
cities. The offices in the larger towns
are savings banks as well. Here
sums as low as ten cents are received,
and when they amount to one yen
dollar draw interest.
No silk goods are manufactured in
Yokohama. The silk producing dis
tricts are scattered all over the en-
pire. Raw or skein silk is largely
exported. The native merchants who
handle it are distinct from those
dealing in manufactured silk goods
Most of the woven silk Is produced
in the silk districts. There it is usu-
ally woven in hand looms, but many
steam factories are already estab-
lished. \ large trade is carried on in
the export of silk-worm eggs to
France and Italy. There the eggs
are hatched and cocoons produced.
1t was an interesting sight the
other day to see Japanese laborers
engaged in landing a cargo of Amer
lean lumber. 1t had been brought
here in the bark Amanda for the use
of the japanese Steamship Company
Timber in this country is scarce, and
in time there will be a good demand
for Puget Sound lumber. Its manu-
facturer5 should have agents here to
look after their interests.
For the last two weeks the Ganadi
an line OF steamers has had its adver-
tisements in the foreign and native
newspapers. Tho first steamer. Abs
yssinia, is to leave here on May 29th,
to be followed by the Parthia June
18th and the Batavia July 10th. A
new epoch in the American and
Asiatic trade will thus be initiated.
What effect will it have on Washing
ton Territory? viii it tend to turn
the trans Pacific trade into English
channels, or will it result in arousing
Americans to look better after their
interests abroad? You people on
Puget Sound must not be SO pro-
foundly absorbed in home improve
ments as to neglect the important
duties you owe TO American COM
merce and American influence abroad.
If you have not the necessary wealth
yourselves. you can, by the action of
your chambers of commerce and by
individual influence, do much to make
eastern capital al d eastern enterprise
to locate in yOU" midst. Japan is
looking across TIE ocean Tith longing
eyes to America for encouragement
in her endcavor to take her place
among the civilized nations of the
earth. From America she received
the first impulse to leave her long
seclusiOn. Her people esteem our
people. She would hail with delight
the prospect of increased trade rela-
tions between the two rations. She
IS soon to remodle her laws and give
her people increased liberty. They
will be allowed to unite their money
with that of foreigners in the estab-
lishment of stock companies fer the
prosecution of any kind of business.
This will allow foreigners to reside in
any part of the empire. 1t will in
crease the demand for foreign pro
ducts. Let Americans not be slow to
advance their interests here. If their
money doas not help to develop ia
pan, that Of other countries will. Let
the merchants OF Puget Sound be
prompt in establishing permanent
business relations with japanese mer-
chants Much of the future increased
trade of the United States with Japan
should pas yo,lr way. Such 4 trade
will aid in buildIng up your cities
and enricLiug your citizens. May the
day not be distant when Il regular
line of steamships will connect ia
pan with your ports and co operate
with your great overland railroad.
Railroad buiiding IS moTiEg apace-
Soon the iron horse will be thunder
ing along through beautiful valleys
heretofore only occupied by quiet